Kuhn Group Sales Dip 9% in 2025 but Orders Signal Recovery
Kuhn Group recorded net sales of NZ$2.27 billion in 2025, finishing around 9% lower than in 2024.
In a move that appears to have been repeated by many equipment manufacturers, Kuhn confirms it currently working on several autonomous solutions – particularly in the area of feeding.
The first to break cover is AURA, a self-propelled ‘feeding solution’ that loads, weighs, mixes, distributes and even ‘pushes up’ feed to the barrier. Part of the ALFS (Autonomous Livestock Feeding System) that started as a concept in 2015, the finished version recently walked away with an innovation award at the recent French Space 2020 Expo.
Up front, a rotary cutterhead and conveyor system – like the one already used on the company’s full-sized mixer wagons – cuts silage directly from the clamp face and delivers it to the machine’s 3 cubic metre capacity tub.
Said to be suitable to feed a mob of up to 280 animals, the AURA tips the scales at 6.2 tonnes empty. It can travel at speeds of up to 7km/h around the yard or 2 km/h when feeding.
Currently powered by a 56hp diesel engine, Dairy News understands that a hybrid option is in the pipeline.
This will use the engine for loading and mixing and then switch to an ‘electric mode’ for feeding – helping to reduce both noise and emissions.
Guidance at the clamp is taken care of by GPS/RTK in conjunction with an odometer, while at the feeding area, LIDAR and the odometer is the chosen solution.
A spate of southerly winds bringing cold temperatures has presented challenges for Taranaki dairy farmers.
Converting a longstanding cropping farm to dairy was the only way to ensure the land stayed in the family long term, says new dairy farmer Rod May.
As the election heats up, Organics Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ) has launched its election scorecard designed to help voters wanting to support policies that grow organic and New Zealand's organic sector.
A 'tsunami' of milk from key exporting countries is winding down and this may be good news for New Zealand dairy farmers.
Will the good times last? That's one of the key issues to come out of the latest Federated Farmers confidence survey.
Outgoing Fonterra Co-operative Council chair John Stevenson says that it has been a privilege to represent the co-op's farmer shareholders.
OPINION: It seems Canterbury processor Synlait is still in the doldrums.
OPINION: Get offside with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters at your own peril.